Forced labour in Nyaunglebin District, February 2013

This news bulletin describes forced labour in Nyaunglebin District demanded by Tatmadaw Kyone Kyi Army Camp Commander, Paing Soe Hkaing. Villagers reported that, in February 2013, eight villages were asked to construct fencing on military campgrounds without compensation. Two villages participated by sending one person from each household, while the remaining six villages sent a combined 20 people.[1]

The KHRG community member reported that residents of eight villages in Kyauk Kyi Township were requested to build fences in the Kyone Kyi camp area, and each village was given 25 cubits of land for its inhabitants to fence. According to the community member, there are 70 households in T--- village, 150 households in S--- village, 40 households in U--- village, 120 households in V--- village, 70 households in W--- village, 70 households in R--- village and 80 households in X--- village. Each village was allowed to determine how many villagers it would send to meet Paing Soe Hkaing’s demands. Villagers in S--- and T--- villages selected a member from each household to participate so that they could finish their work quickly, while only 20 villagers total went from each of the other six villages.

Footnotes

[1]This news bulletin was written by KHRG based on information from a community member from Nyaunglebin District who has been trained by KHRG to monitor human rights conditions, including one short update received by KHRG in May 2013 and during a phone call with KHRG in October 2013.